200 Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers Installed Last Year in Public Parking Lots Across Seoul

Seoul City Expands to 789 Units in Accessible Locations like Subway Stations and District Offices
Supports 100 Slow Chargers in Apartment and Officetel Parking Lots This Year

On-site view of the Solar Station installed within Yangjae Green Car Station. It is a 'renewable energy hybrid electric vehicle charging station' combining solar power and ESS, where electricity generated from both general electricity and solar energy is used together for electric vehicle charging.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 12th that it has installed an additional 200 public rapid chargers at major public parking lots and government offices in Seoul over the past year to expand the supply of electric vehicles and enhance convenience for electric vehicle users. As a result, the total number of rapid chargers for electric vehicles in Seoul has increased to 789.

Of the 200 newly installed chargers, 60 were directly installed by Seoul City or supported for installation by autonomous districts and the private sector. These include 12 public parking lots such as Sejongno and Jamsil Station (28 chargers), 3 public facilities including Seoul City Hall Seosomun Building (6 chargers), and 5 "Seoul-type concentrated charging stations" with multiple chargers installed in public parking lots in Gangnam, Gwangjin, and Mapo districts to allow users to charge without waiting (25 chargers).

Notably, 51 chargers (85%) among these were concentrated in 17 public parking lots such as subway stations and district offices, enabling electric vehicle users to conveniently charge in easily accessible locations.

According to a "Public Survey on the Use of Eco-friendly Transportation" conducted by Seoul City last year, more than half of electric vehicle users responded that they mainly charge near their residences. The most preferred locations for additional charger installations outside residential areas were major public parking lots (35%). The biggest obstacles to purchasing electric vehicles were identified as "lack of charging stations" and "slow charging speed."

This year, the city plans to support private businesses to install more than 20 rapid chargers in public parking lots and to build an additional 24 rapid chargers at 8 locations through open recruitment by autonomous districts. Additionally, starting this year, the city will invest municipal funds in the "Slow Charger Installation Subsidy Project," supporting the installation of 100 chargers in parking lots of apartments (multi-family housing) and officetels based on citizen applications.

Jo Wan-seok, Director of Seoul City's Climate Change Response Division, stated, "In the new year, we will actively listen to the voices of citizens using electric vehicles and focus on creating a convenient charging environment. Through this, eco-friendly vehicles will be more widely distributed, contributing to reducing fine dust in downtown Seoul and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, thereby leading efforts to respond to the climate crisis."